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librarica11's review against another edition
5.0
If you can get your hands on this collection, nearly ten years old now, you won't be disappointed. It's EXTRAORDINARY.
murphyc1's review against another edition
5.0
I rather randomly picked this edition of the long-running series to read, on a whim, in the fall of 2008. The stories, all published a decade before I read them (that seemed much a greater length of time to me then than it does today), had a rather outsized impact on me. I still recall particular scenes from several of the stories collected herein.
"In the whole anthology only one stinker-- Annie Proulx['s story]. It sucked," I wrote in a journal later, presumably in 2009. (If you should ever see this, I'm sorry Annie Proulx! I don't know why disliked your story so much. Perhaps I would feel different today.) I go on, "'Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter' [by Chitra Divakaruni] is probably my favorite. Some of the best stories I've ever read." I still think they are.
"In the whole anthology only one stinker-- Annie Proulx['s story]. It sucked," I wrote in a journal later, presumably in 2009. (If you should ever see this, I'm sorry Annie Proulx! I don't know why disliked your story so much. Perhaps I would feel different today.) I go on, "'Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter' [by Chitra Divakaruni] is probably my favorite. Some of the best stories I've ever read." I still think they are.
markimus's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps I'm a bit too dense to understand what the author was trying to convey. Maybe it was about how anything in your life can change, and nothing is for certain? So, if that were the case, then sure this does the job, but honestly it doesn't make for a great story. Hearing about a guys train commute is just plain dull..LeVar does a great job as always, but this is another strikeout for me on the LeVar Burton Reads Podcast.
maybezed's review against another edition
4.25
Captivating and thought provoking, just as a short story should be.
clarkness's review against another edition
2.0
For a collection of the best american short stories of an entire year, this was pretty pathetic. There were a few bright lights, several pretty decent stories, and an awful lot of terrible stories. Best stories: "The Hermit's Story", "The Sun, the Moon, the Stars", "Marry the One Who Gets There First", "Live Life King-Sized", "The Uncharted Heart".
Worst story by far: "Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter". What an incredibly unthoughtful, tepid and prosaic work of fiction.
Worst story by far: "Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter". What an incredibly unthoughtful, tepid and prosaic work of fiction.
zamyatins_fears's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed this short from the Levar Burton Reads podcast and of course, Levar's narration was wonderful, as always. It was surreal and entertaining, but as other reviewers have mentioned, it's almost too understated. I felt like the author could have made it a little more impactful, but while I did enjoy reading it, I'd forgotten just about everything about it only a week later.
yurwity's review against another edition
4.0
One thing: hey, literary fiction, why does every marriage have to end in disappointment?
arielx's review against another edition
4.0
Noteworthy/memorable:
The Hermit's Story is one of those "man's relationship with nature" stories that manages to maintain a convincing tone of wonder and suspense throughout the story.
The Sun, The Moon, The Stars is one of my favorite stories and my first introduction to [author: Junot Diaz]. The style is raw and real, and the plot so typically human.
The 5:22 is simple, feel-good short fiction that builds character well and then shakes it up wonderfully.
The Best Girlfriend You Never Had is a rambling story about life and love in San Francisco, which is apparently a place where futures are uncertain, and self-doubt is common. But the convincing quirkiness of the characters lends authority to this tale of maturing and moving forward.
Honorable mentions:
Kansas, The Uncharted Heart, Interpreter of Maladies
Take-home message:
A very well-rounded anthology, entertaining from beginning to end.
The Hermit's Story is one of those "man's relationship with nature" stories that manages to maintain a convincing tone of wonder and suspense throughout the story.
The Sun, The Moon, The Stars is one of my favorite stories and my first introduction to [author: Junot Diaz]. The style is raw and real, and the plot so typically human.
The 5:22 is simple, feel-good short fiction that builds character well and then shakes it up wonderfully.
The Best Girlfriend You Never Had is a rambling story about life and love in San Francisco, which is apparently a place where futures are uncertain, and self-doubt is common. But the convincing quirkiness of the characters lends authority to this tale of maturing and moving forward.
Honorable mentions:
Kansas, The Uncharted Heart, Interpreter of Maladies
Take-home message:
A very well-rounded anthology, entertaining from beginning to end.
karwolfkill's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting and sneaky. I'm not sure I really liked to protagonist or his attitude toward the woman in the story. As always, LeVar is a great reader.